Watch: Behind the scenes in the costume workshop of Royal Lyceum Theatre's Cinderella Christmas show
The show is the Royal Lyceum Theatre's Christmas production
I am sent detailed directions before I arrive, sending me to a small, unassuming door tucked away behind a furniture shop in Roseburn.
“It’s quite hard to find,” I’m told. My informant was right.
Up the stairs and along the corridor is the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh’s costume store. It is like a Santa’s workshop for theatre geeks.
A handful of industrious staff are sewing away, frantically putting the finishing touches to costumes for the theatre’s Christmas show, Cinderella: A Fairytale.
Costume designer Francis O’Connor and costume supervisor Christine Dove are preparing for the first on-stage rehearsals of the show, which opens on Friday.
The wicked stepmother seems to have the best wardrobe, featuring an impressive red velvet coat and hat, as well as a dogtooth checked suit akin to an outfit of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
“She’s got quite an ‘80s vibe,” says Mr O’Connor, comparing her style to Alexis Carrington of 1980s TV show Dynasty. “She’s probably got the most extreme costumes.”
A total of 25 costumes are needed for the show. Around half are created from scratch and the others adapted from existing costumes from previous performances.
The step siblings - there is a brother and sister in this adaptation of the classic tale - have equally colourful and vibrant costumes, backdropped again a monochrome set.
“There’s a lot more colour involved for a Christmas show, a lot more sparkle,” says Mr O’Connor.
Cinderella: A Fairytale is on at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh from November 27 to January 3.
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